Canonical Ensemble in Non-extensive Statistical Mechanics

The framework of non-extensive statistical mechanics, proposed by Tsallis, has been used to describe a variety of systems. The non-extensive statistical mechanics is usually introduced in a formal way, using the maximization of entropy. In this article we investigate the canonical ensemble in the non-extensive statistical mechanics using a more traditional way, by considering a small system interacting with a large reservoir via short-range forces. The reservoir is characterized by generalized entropy instead of the Boltzmann-Gibbs entropy. Assuming equal probabilities for all available microstates we derive the equations of the non-extensive statistical mechanics. Such a procedure can provide deeper insight into applicability of the non-extensive statistics.

Position-dependent spin-orbit coupling for ultracold atoms

We theoretically explore atomic Bose-Einstein condensates (BECs) subject to position-dependent spin-orbit coupling (SOC). This SOC can be produced by cyclically laser coupling four internal atomic ground (or metastable) states in an environment where the detuning from resonance depends on position. The resulting spin-orbit coupled BEC phase-separates into domains, each of which contain density modulations - stripes - aligned either along the x or y direction. In each domain, the stripe orientation is determined by the sign of the local detuning. When these stripes have mismatched spatial periods along domain boundaries, non-trivial topological spin textures form at the interface, including skyrmions-like spin vortices and anti-vortices. In contrast to vortices present in conventional rotating BECs, these spin-vortices are stable topological defects that are not present in the corresponding homogenous stripe-phase spin-orbit coupled BECs.

Transfer of orbital angular momentum of light using two component slow light

We study the manipulation of slow light with an orbital angular momentum propagating in a cloud of cold atoms. Atoms are affected by four copropagating control laser beams in a double tripod configuration of the atomic energy levels involved, allowing to minimize the losses at the vortex core of the control beams. In such a situation the atomic medium is transparent for a pair of copropagating probe fields, leading to the creation of two-component (spinor) slow light. We study the interaction between the probe fields when two control beams carry optical vortices of opposite helicity. As a result, a transfer of the optical vortex takes place from the control to the probe fields without switching off and on the control beams. This feature is missing in a single tripod scheme where the optical vortex can be transferred from the control to the probe field only during either the storage or retrieval of light.

Engineering Dresselhaus spin-orbit coupling for cold atoms in a double tripod configuration

We study laser induced spin-orbit (SO) coupling in cold atom systems where lasers couple three internal states to a pair of excited states, in a double tripod topology. Proper choice of laser amplitudes and phases produces a Hamiltonian with a doubly degenerate ground state separated from the remaining excited eigenstates by gaps determined by the Rabi frequencies of the atom-light coupling. After eliminating the excited states with a Born- Oppenheimer approximation, the Hamiltonian of the remaining two states includes Dresselhaus (or equivalently Rashba) SO coupling. Unlike earlier proposals, here the SO coupled states are the two lowest energy dressed spin states and are thus immune to collisional relaxation. Finally, we discuss a specific implementation of our system using Raman transitions between different hyperfine states within the electronic ground state manifold of nuclear spin I = 3/2 alkali atoms.

Optical vortices of slow light using tripod scheme

We consider propagation, storing and retrieval of slow light (probe beam) in a resonant atomic medium illuminated by two control laser beams of larger intensity. The probe and two control beams act on atoms in a tripod configuration of the light-matter coupling. The first control beam is allowed to have an orbital angular momentum (OAM). Application of the second vortex-free control laser ensures the adiabatic (lossles) propagation of the probe beam at the vortex core where the intensity of the first control laser goes to zero. Storing and release of the probe beam is accomplished by switching off and on the control laser beams leading to the transfer of the optical vortex from the first control beam to the regenerated probe field. A part of the stored probe beam remains frozen in the medium in the form of atomic spin excitations, the number of which increases with increasing the intensity of the second control laser. We analyse such losses in the regenerated probe beam and provide conditions for the optical vortex of the control beam to be transferred efficiently to the restored probe beam.